Finland:The Europa World of Learning

Introductory Survey

The Higher Education System

The higher education system consists of two parallel systems, universities and polytechnics: universities focus on academic teaching and research while polytechnics specialize on professional and vocational training. The structure of the degree system is the same in both sectors. There are 21 universities and 29 polytechnics. The oldest university is the Kuvataideakatemia (Academy of Fine Arts), which was founded in 1848. In 2007 student enrollments were as follows: Vocational and professional institutions 266,479; Polytechnics 133,284; Universities 176,304.

All universities are state-owned and are administered by the Ministry of Education’s Division for Higher Education and Science. University-level education is free but students may be required to pay extraneous services, such as healthcare and compulsory membership of the Student’s Union. Under the Universities Act, universities are obliged to promote free research and provide free education. Universities enjoy relative autonomy in decision-making, based on three-year performance agreements with the Ministry of Education. Government funding accounts for about 64% of university budgets, with the rest coming from the Academy of Finland, the Technology Development Centre Tekes, business enterprises, the EU and other public bodies.

The current polytechnic system emerged during the 1990s and was in place by 2000. Like the universities, the polytechnics are controlled by the Division for Higher Education and Science within the Ministry of Education. The polytechnics are a mix of municipal and private ownership. Funding of public polytechnics is shared between central Government and local government. Polytechnics follow performance agreements made with the Ministry of Education.

Admission to both universities and polytechnics is on the basis of completed secondary education and entrance examination. University admissions are subjected to the Universities Decree (115/1998), and admission to polytechnics is governed by the Polytechnic Studies Act (351/2003). In 2005 a two-tier Bachelors and Masters degree system was implemented in both universities and polytechnics, in accordance with the Bologna Process. The award of degrees is based on a US-style academic ‘credit’ system. The university Bachelors degree lasts for three years and students must accrue 120 credits; the university Masters degree is a two-year course requiring 40–60 credits. The polytechnic Bachelors requires 120–160 credits over three-and-a-half to four years, and the polytechnic Masters 40–60 credits in one-and-a-half years. (Admission to the polytechnic Masters requires a polytechnic Bachelors and three years’ professional experience.)

In some subject-areas the old-style degree system remains in place. For dentistry, medicine, and veterinary medicine, the first degree is the Lisensiaatti or Licentiate, which requires 200–250 credits and takes five to six years. The Lisensiaatti/Licentiate is a doctoral-level degree. Students who have received the Masters may take the Tohtori or Doctorate, which last four years. In addition to the technical and vocational education offered by polytechnics there is also an apprenticeship scheme combining workplace and classroom learning.